Acanthus of Sparta

Acanthus the Lacedaemonian (Ancient Greek: Ἄκανθος[1]), was the victor in two footrace events, the diaulos (δίαυλος) and dolichos (δόλιχος), in the Olympic Games of 720 BC.[2] He was also, according to some accounts, the first who ran naked in these games.[3][4][5] Other accounts ascribe this to Orsippus the Megarian. Thucydides says that the Lacedaemonians were the first who contended naked in gymnastic games, although he does not mention Acanthus by name.[6]

Acanthus of Sparta
Personal information
BornSparta, Laconia
Sport
Event(s)Diaulos and Dolichos
Medal record
Ancient Greek Olympics
Representing Laconia
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 720 BC Olympia Diaulos
Gold medal – first place 720 BC Olympia Dolichos

References

  1. Christesen, Paul (2007). Olympic Victor Lists and Ancient Greek History. Cambridge University Press. p. 528.
  2. Smith, William (1867), "Acanthus", in Smith, William (ed.), Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology, vol. 1, Boston, p. 5, archived from the original on 2007-09-07, retrieved 2007-09-21{{citation}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  3. Pausanias, v. 8. § 3.
  4. Dionys. vii. 72.
  5. Sextus Julius Africanus. apud Eusebius, p. 143.
  6. Thucydides, i. 6.

Sources

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.